Russian language must retain regional language status – Tymoshenko

Leader of the Batkivschyna Party Yulia Tymoshenko said that the Russian language will have the status of a regional language in Ukraine.

"I think that the Law on Regional Languages, passed by the previous authorities, is the balance between the western and eastern parts of the country that has been achieved and must be maintained," Tymoshenko said at a press briefing in Donetsk.

She said she does not think this law should be annulled. "This law was initially repealed, but Oleksandr Turchynov [Ukraine's interim president and parliamentary speaker] vetoed the decision to annul this law, so the Law on Regional Languages is fully applicable," she said.

"I will apply every effort to guarantee that we feel like an undivided nation and country," Tymoshenko said.